title: Durable complete response of hepatocellular carcinoma after metronomic capecitabine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascular tumor which is poorly responsive to standard systemic chemotherapy. Recently, various antiangiogenic targeted agents have shown promising activity at different levels of evidence in patients with advanced HCC, suggesting that such treatments might be effective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since chemotherapy administered with metronomic schedules inhibits angiogenesis, we treated a 64-year-old man with advanced HCC with metronomic capecitabine. After only two months of treatment the HCC nodules disappeared on ultrasonography. This finding was confirmed by a computed tomography scan. After more than three years the patient is still in treatment with minimal toxicity and maintains a complete remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our case report suggests that metronomic capecitabine may be effective in advanced HCC patients while being also well tolerated. This is important, given the frequent comorbidities of HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncological Sciences L. e A. Seragnoli, Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. giovanni.brandi@unibo.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Rosa
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bolondi
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil